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Re-enactors on Battle Road at Minute Man National Historical Park.

Holiday Hours: Patriots Day

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Monday, April 21, is Patriots Day, a state holiday marking the anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord that began the American Revolution. The day has been celebrated on the third Monday in April since 1969.

This year mark's the 250th anniversary of what many consider the start of the American Revolution with the "shot heard round the world."

It was on the morning of April 20, 1775, that Paul Revere and other riders began the alert across and beyond Massachusetts Colony that troops were planning to advance from Boston to the towns of Lexington and Concord. They were to seize a cache of gunpowder and arms and capture revolutionaries Sam Adams and John Hancock.

(Local legend claims that Israel Bissell, later of Hinsdale, rode all the way to Philadelphia, but most historians dismiss it.)

Previous attempts to capture munitions depots from the increasingly belligerent colonials had failed, so Lt. Col. Francis Smith led some 700 British regulars on what was supposed to be a secret mission against the nearby towns. Colonial spies were aware of the expedition and some local militia was mustered on the Lexington green the night before.

Whether it was a colonial or soldier who fired "the shot heard round the world" on Lexington green is unknown. However, word spread quickly that shots had been fired at Lexington and more colonials headed to Concord. The army took the town but came under fire at North Bridge and beat an ignominious retreat to Boston.

Adams and Hancock evaded capture and much of the arms had been scattered to surrounding towns long before the army arrived. As reports of the events spread throughout the colonies, supplies and reinforcements, including George Washington, began arriving to relieve Boston. A year later, the British army would leave on March 17; the event is commemorated in Suffolk County as Evacuation Day.

Minute Man National Park in Concord and Lexington has several events planned this weekend and Monday.

Patriots Day is also known as "Marathon Monday" because the Boston Marathon, the world's oldest annual marathon, has traditionally been run on that day. The 129th marathon starts off at 10 a.m. in Hopkinton (where it's started the past 100 years) with more than 30,000 entries. 

(per WBUR) Apparently, King Edward VII wanted the marathon for the 1908 London Olympics to start at Windsor Castle, which meant 385 yards had to be added to the standard 24.8 miles. The new 26.2-mile marathon distance wasn't adopted until 1924 by the Boston Marathon, when it became the last test for the Paris Games for Olympic hopefuls that year. Hopkinton then became the starting point over Ashland. 

The Red Sox host the White Sox at 11:10 a.m. at Fenway.

Saturday's temperatures could hit 80 but Sunday and Marathon Monday will be cloudy, breezy and cooler in the high 50s, low 60s.

 
Closed:
Municipal, county and state offices

Public schools; it marks the first day of spring vacation
Public colleges, including MCLA and BCC
Public libraries


Open:
BRTA operating on regular schedule; office closed
Restaurants, bars, convenience stores, supermarkets, retail stores, liquor stores
Banks may open if they wish; all markets are open
Federal offices open: mail is delivered


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Berkshire Music School Announces Talent and Merit Scholarship Auditions

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Berkshire Music School announced their upcoming Talent and Merit Scholarship Auditions for aspiring musicians.

These auditions are scheduled for Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM at the Berkshire Music School, located at 30 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA 01201. 

Students are also welcome to participate virtually, by recording a video containing the audition requirements, filling out the registration form linked below, and sending their video to Sarah Prouty at sprouty@berkshiremusicschool.org before June 25. 

Open to talented instrumentalists and vocalists, the scholarship auditions provide an excellent opportunity for musicians to showcase their skills and potentially receive talent or merit-based financial assistance for their music education at BMS. 

Audition Details: 

  • Instrumentalists are asked to prepare: 
  • Major and minor scales in a key of their choice in one octave  
  • Two songs of their choice in contrasting styles 
  • Vocalists are asked to prepare: 
  • Two songs of their choice in contrasting styles 

?BMS will not be providing an accompanist. Instrumentalists should be prepared to perform without accompaniment; vocalists may perform to pre-recorded accompaniment that they provide. 

Berkshire Music School offers these scholarships to aspiring musicians in the community thanks to the generosity of their donors. These auditions not only provide a platform for showcasing musical talent but also offer financial support for students committed to furthering their musical education. The Talent and Merit Scholarship Auditions are open to musicians of all skill levels and ages, and all interested participants are encouraged to come prepared to perform. 

To Register for the Auditions: 

Visit berkshiremusicschool.org/auditions to register. 

For additional information or questions, please contact Berkshire Music School at 413.442.1411 or email Luis Granda at lgranda@berkshiremusicschool.org

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